Supply Chain Management Strategies in the Manufacturing Industry Marcia S
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2018 Supply Chain Management Strategies in the Manufacturing Industry Marcia S. Falks Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, and the Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral study by Marcia Falks has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Diane Dusick, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Gregory Washington, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Scott Burrus, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2018 Abstract Supply Chain Management Strategies in the Manufacturing Industry by Marcia S. Falks MBA, Strayer University, 2008 BBA, Cumberland University, 2004 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University October 2018 Abstract Inefficient supply chains result in unsold inventory and unfilled customer orders, posing a significant risk to company profitability and consumer satisfaction. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies supply chain managers in the manufacturing industry used to match the level of unsold inventory in the supply chain with customer demand consistently. Porter’s value chain provided the conceptual framework for the study. A sample of 5 experienced supply chain managers from a global manufacturing company headquartered in the midwestern United States participated in semistructured interviews. Each participant provided company supply chain documentation for triangulation. Data analysis followed Yin’s 5 stages of data analysis and yielded 4 themes: define policies and processes, develop collaborative partnerships, leverage technology, and consider the end-to-end supply chain. The themes are the foundation of successful supply chain management strategies that have improved matching of unsold inventory in the supply chain to customer demand. Study findings benefit both supply chain leaders and consumers by providing the potential to improve consistency in meeting customer demand with less inventory in the supply chain, resulting in customer satisfaction, business growth, and stable employment. The findings may contribute to positive social change by helping supply chain leaders create thriving businesses with satisfied employees and customers who are willing to spend their time and money contributing to community growth, economic stability, and enhanced social conditions. Supply Chain Management Strategies in the Manufacturing Industry by Marcia S. Falks MBA, Strayer University, 2008 BBA, Cumberland University, 2004 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University October 2018 Dedication I dedicate this study to my family and friends for providing support through all of the challenges of this journey. A special thank you to my husband, Dee, for being by my side every step of the way. Your tireless support and endless patience allowed me to focus and achieve this milestone. Thank you! Acknowledgments I would like to thank my doctoral committee and the entire Walden University staff for the advice, support, and guidance during my doctoral journey. A special thank you to Dr. Diane Dusick for being an amazing chair. Your dedication and responsiveness made all the difference in my ability to navigate through the process and finish within the planned timeframe. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................v Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................2 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................3 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................3 Research Question .........................................................................................................4 Interview Questions .......................................................................................................4 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................5 Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................6 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ................................................................7 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 7 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 7 Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 8 Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................8 A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ................................................9 Porter’s Value Chain Model ........................................................................................10 Porter’s Value Chain in Research ................................................................................12 Chaos Theory ...............................................................................................................16 Simons’s Levers of Control Theory .............................................................................18 i Supply Chain Management Strategies .........................................................................20 Customer Demand .......................................................................................................32 Unsold Inventory in the Supply Chain.........................................................................36 Transition .....................................................................................................................40 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................43 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................43 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................43 Participants ...................................................................................................................45 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................47 Research Method .................................................................................................. 47 Research Design.................................................................................................... 48 Population and Sampling .............................................................................................49 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................51 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................52 Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................53 Data Organization Technique ......................................................................................55 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................56 Reliability and Validity ................................................................................................58 Reliability .............................................................................................................. 58 Validity ................................................................................................................. 59 Transition and Summary ..............................................................................................60 Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change ..................62 ii Introduction ..................................................................................................................62